Articulated tug barge

ABSTRACT

An articulated tug barge having a tugboat with two or three skegs and a barge with two skegs, wherein the tug comprises a large surface area double plate rudder, and the skegs are 30% of the length of the tug, and the barge skegs are 10% of the length of the barge.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION.

[0001] The invention refers to a tug and articulated unmanned cargo barge, wherein the tug hull has a twin screw propulsion system, a superstructure and crews quarters at least one located on the main deck and at least one located on the upper structure.

[0002] In conventional tugboats the draft of the tug and barge snag on sandbars, the present invention was designed to stop snagging.

[0003] A need has long existed for a tug and barge combination with multiple skegs to prevent snagging on sandbars, such as at the Columbia River, Ocean interface.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] An articulated tug barge having a tugboat with at least two skegs and a barge with at least two skegs, wherein said tug further comprises a large surface area double plate rudder, at least two skegs which are 30% of the length of said tug, and said barge comprises at least two skegs which are 30% of the length of said barge.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] The invention is described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0006]FIG. 1 is the outboard profile of the tugboat.

[0007]FIG. 2 is the inboard profile of the tugboat.

[0008]FIG. 3 is the hold plan of the tugboat.

[0009]FIG. 4 is the main deck plan of the tugboat.

[0010]FIG. 5 is the upper level plan of the tugboat.

[0011]FIG. 6 is the barge and tugboat combination.

DETAILED DESCRIPITION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] According to the invention a tugboat 10 has a bow 12 and stem 14 with a hull 16, a main deck 18 and a superstructure 20 which includes a plurality of upper levels, including second upper level 35 for crew space, and fourth upper level 24 for the pilot house. The hull 16 has at least one skeg on the hull closest to the seabed and oriented in the center of the vessel, having a width of from 3 to 24 inches and a length of from 8 to 23 feet. A second skeg 17 and third skeg 19 are oriented in a parallel relationship to the center skeg and have substantially similar lengths and widths. The skegs are preferably made of steel or the same material as the hull. They are preferably painted with the same anti-fouling paint as the tug hull.

[0013] The tugboat has an engine room 21 disposed at midships of the vessel, and one of the two diesel engines which are part of the preferred embodiment is shown as 23.

[0014] A tank layout is shown in FIG. 1. Preferably, two fuel tanks 25 and 26 are located forward of the engine room 21. Two fuel tanks 28 and 30 are located aft of the engine room 21.

[0015] The main deck 18 preferably includes the galley, mess and staterooms 32, although additional staterooms 34 can be disposed above staterooms 32.

[0016] The superstructure 20 can include a first upper level 35 which has a crew lounge and ships office, a second upper level 37 which is a void, a third upper level 39 for storage, and a fourth upper level 41 as a pilot house.

[0017]FIG. 3 shows a typical hold plan for a tugboat, wherein the engine room 21 is located midships of the tugboat. Forward of the engine room 21 are at least one, preferably two, fuel tanks 25 and 26. It should be noted that the engines 23 and 35 are preferably connected to generators (not shown).

[0018]FIG. 4 shows the main deck plan for a preferred embodiment of the tugboat.

[0019]FIG. 5 shows a preferred pilothouse plan for fourth upper level 41.

[0020] The tug and barge combinations are shown in FIG. 6.

[0021] The articulated tug and barge combination is capable of crossing sandbars at the Columbia River and Ocean interface. The tug/barge combination has been designed to be capable of withstanding sea wave heights of at least 6 feet, and impacts with various waves from various directions without splitting apart, and while maintaining continued maneuverability of the articulated tug barge combination. The tug has an improved skeg design and improved rudder design.

[0022] The barge skeg as shown in FIG. 6 has at least 3 skegs, increasing the total skeg surface area up to 25% more than traditional 2 skeg barges. Additionally, the novel design has longer skegs than usual which increases directional stability and resists yawl or turning movement. The tug's rudder design has a larger surface area than conventional tugboat rudders while maintaining turning ability, the rudder is up to 30% larger. The rudder's length and depth are also increased. The rudder is a double plate rudder welded or lapped, or possibly plug welded construction.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment, the tug has a rudder with a height of between 13 feet 5 inches and 14 feet four inches, a thickness of between twelve feet and ½ inches and 21 feet {fraction (1/2 )} inches, and a length of between 8 feet and 11 and ½ inches and 8 feet and 9 and ½ inches.

[0024] In the most preferred embodiment, the tug has two or three skegs with a length of between 29 feet 6 inches and 37 feet 6 inches, a width of between 2 feet 2 inches and 3 feet 6 inches and a height of between 2 feet and 12 feet 4 inches. The barge has two skegs wherein each skeg has a length of between 66 feet and 72 feet, a width of between 1.5 feet and 6 feet 3 inches, and a height between 2 feet 7 inches and 24 feet 6 inches. While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the inventive principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An articulated tug barge having a tugboat with at least one skeg and a barge with at least two skegs, wherein said tug further at least comprises two large surface area double plate rudders, at least one skeg which is 30% of the length of said tug, and said barge comprises at least two skegs which are 10% of the length of said barge.
 2. The tug barge of claim 1, wherein said tug and barge each further comprises at least three skegs.
 3. The tug barge of claim 1, with a tug comprising an engine room with two diesel motors positioned in the midships portion of the hull.
 4. The tug barge of claim 1, wherein the hull comprises a super-structure which is positioned forward of midships of the tug.
 5. The tug barge of claim 1, wherein the machinery in the engine room comprises at least two drive engines coupled to a propeller shaft.
 6. The tug barge of claim 1, wherein said tug comprises pins for securing said tug and barge together.
 7. The tug barge of claim 1, wherein said rudder has a height of between 13 feet 5 inches and 14 feet four inches, a thickness of between 12 feet and ½ inches and 21 feet ½ inches, and a length of between 8 feet and 11 and ½ inches and 8 feet and 9 and ½ inches.
 8. The tug barge of claim 1, wherein each said tug skeg has a length of between 29 feet 6 inches and 37 feet 6 inches, a width of between 2 feet 2 inches and 3 feet 6 inches and a height of between 2 feet and 12 feet 4 inches.
 9. The tug barge of claim 1, wherein each said barge skeg has a length of between 66 feet and 72 feet, a width of between 1.5 feet and 6 feet 3 inches, and a height between 2 feet 7 inches and 24 feet 6 inches.
 10. The tug barge of claim 1, wherein said skegs are made from steel or iron alloys or combinations thereof. 